AZAM ALI & NIYAZ
Edson, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE
Music
Press
C'était la voix céleste qui s'élevait au-dessus de tout du temps du groupe Niyaz. Elle chante comme un ange et caresse le santour, l'un des instruments emblématiques de l'Iran, d'où elle vient. Elle n'y a pas vécu longtemps, mais en a conservé l'intériorité de la musique.
Maintenant installée à Montréal, elle propose un disque de berceuses du Moyen- Orient, région du monde qu'elle aborde dans sa globalité en retenant d'abord l'âme des minorités ethniques. De la nuit au lever du jour, une mère se plonge dans la tendresse des mélopées et partage vocalement ses amours ou ses angoisses avec le nouveau-né.
Elle chante en plusieurs langues, interprète Marcel Khalifé, puise dans les traditions d'Iran, d'Irak, de Palestine, d'Azerbaïdjan et de Turquie. Elle écrit des musiques et s'accompagne d'excellents cordistes et percussionnistes, dont les frères Tabassian de Montréal. Elle signe un disque aux envoûtantes rêveries. En vente le 19 avril. - Le Devoir
« (Azam) Ali has become one of the best-loved vocalists on America’s world music scene » - India West
Ali’s voice, one of the most evocative in modern music, seems to rise from the collective unconscious, simultaneously new and ancient.” - Billboard
Most impressive of all is the voice and presence of the beautiful Azam Ali. Like the group she fronts, Azam appears to straddle cultures and contradictions. She sings sacred poetry and age-old songs from Iran, India and Turkey over backing that finds room for synths, beats and electric guitars. She looks and sounds exotic, not surprising given that she grew up in Iran and India, yet there’s something intrinsically Californian about her manner (she now live in LA); she appear not so much trapped between cultures as defined by her cross-culturalism – a true 21st century Sufi if you like. - Froots
The most immediately striking thing about the album is Ali’s voice : her angelic, ghostly tones (which have served her well on previous solo projects and her work as half of the duo Vas) are at their strongest here…. - World Music Central
Azam’s voice is a syren’s call beckoning the soul to leap into realms of infinite beauty - The Book LA
Discography
Niyaz
Sumud - Six Degrees - 2012
Nine Heavens - Six Degrees - 2011
Niyaz - SIx Degrees - 2005
Azam Ali
Elysium for the brave - 2006
From Night to the Edge of Day - 2011
Photos
Bio
A journey to the heart of the unmistakable voice of Azam Ali and the refined acoustic/electronic instrumentation of Loga Ramin Torkian.
NIYAZ defines the best in
contemporary world music by effortlessly marrying rich Sufi mystical poetry and
folk songs from the Middle East, masterful acoustic intrumentation, with modern
electronics.
Based in Montreal, NIYAZ is considered by critics to be one of the most
groundbreaking groups of its time. Since the release of their debut successful
album in 2005, Niyaz have performed in many prominent festivals and concerts
around the world. As individual artists as well as collectively they have also
contributed to some of the biggest soundtracks of major Hollywood films.
Their latest album entitled Sumud - released in September 2012 -
further defines the sound that the group have received acclaim for. Sumud, an
Arabic word which means “steadfastness�, offers a philosophical quest into the
human depths, a message of hope against the injustice and oppression of ethnic
and religious minority groups, a universal tribute to beauty, cultural and
spiritual diversity, freedom and dignity for all.
Video links:
Artist video EPK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNh52ZbjHXc
Clip Parishaan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zl4Xq-CSbFk
Clip The Hunt (new remix 2014)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kII5nCc9W28
http://www.facebook.com/niyazmusic?fref=ts
http://www.zamzama.net/english/artists/niyaz-34/
Group line up
Azam Ali : Voice, frame drums, dulcimer
Loga Ramin Torkian : Multi-oud, kamaan
Habib Meftah Boushehri : percussion, voice
Sinan Eroglu Cem : kaval, baglama
Gabriel Ethier : keyboards and programming
Links